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°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ employees receive excellent benefits from the University and are encouraged to pursue educational opportunities. Sign up for an in-person informational session hosted by the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ Graduate College to learn more about graduate program options, including application deadlines and requirements. Sessions will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Graduate College (West Walwood Hall, East Campus, parking lot #1, GPS address: 741 Oakland Drive). If there is no registration, the session will be canceled that month, so be sure to register in advance!

The Professional Staff Association of Western (PSAW) Scholarship provides financial assistance to undergraduate and graduate students attending °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ who are children of active and retired members of the PSAW.

Recipients are selected in a random drawing, announced at the general membership meeting in late February, and notified shortly after that. The scholarship amount is posted to the recipient's student account the following fall semester. 

Scholarship amount: $500
Deadline for 2025 nominations:  Friday, Feb. 14, 2025

Nominate a student today

The new Hilltop Village Parking Structure, located behind Arcadia Flats, will officially open on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. Three floors of the structure are designated for Arcadia Flats residents while remaining spaces will operate on pay-by-plate basis for other students, employees and visitors. Please follow signage to ensure you are parking in the correct areas.

To reduce energy costs during the recess, heating and cooling systems in all office and classroom buildings controlled by the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ building energy management system will be in holiday mode, unless a space is exempt from the program. The temperature in spaces will not go outside of the range of 55 to 85 degrees. Portions of a particular building that do not regularly go into night setback mode will not go into holiday mode. 

Employees are reminded to shut off and unplug all nonessential electronics before winter recess. 

New IRS rules under the Secure 2.0 act will allow faculty and staff ages 60, 61, 62, and 63 to increase their annual retirement catch-up contribution limit from $7,500 to $11,250 beginning January 1, 2025. Please note that those turning 64 in 2025 are not eligible for these extra catch-up contributions. To enroll or change your election for 2025, complete the Salary Reduction Agreement form and submit it to Human Resources. For more information, please visit…

As part of ongoing employee engagement efforts and in response to faculty and staff feedback, the President's Cabinet will launch a new program called Onward for the Brown and Gold in January. Presented by vice presidents and other senior leaders, these sessions will explore a range of topics that unpack University operations, the factors that shape decision-making and initiatives advancing Western's core mission. A spring semester session is set for Thursday, Jan. 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ Student Center ballroom. Titled Empowering Futures: Empowering Distinction, Student Success and Equitable Outcomes, the session will highlight how the Empowering Futures Gift is driving the creation and expansion of student support resources and systems, resulting in improved…

Most °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ offices will observe the 2024-25 winter recess from Monday, Dec. 23, through Wednesday, Jan. 1. Some campus services will close or operate on limited hours through the start of spring semester. Students, faculty, staff and the public are encouraged to call ahead to make sure a particular office is open.

For emergencies only, contact °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ Public Safety at 911. For non-emergencies, call (269) 488-8911.

Office closings apply to non-represented University employees. Many represented employees have contractually scheduled regular work days Dec. 23 to Jan. 1 since the University continues to provide services during winter recess. Represented employees should direct questions to their management…

The 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available! Students can complete the FAFSA online at studentaid.gov, or request a paper form. The 2025–26 FAFSA covers the academic year from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Students should be sure to create or log in to their FSA ID before accessing the FAFSA form. The FSA ID is needed to sign and submit the FAFSA and is available at studentaid.gov. Filling out the FAFSA is the first step in accessing financial aid for the upcoming year, including federal grants, loans and work-study.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion has made a significant impact on Western Michigan’s campus community by engaging over 2,900 faculty, staff, and students in approximately 170 inclusive programs, workshops, and trainings for the 23-24 academic year. This work included 544 direct student support service hours in the form of academic tutoring and coaching, registered student organization support, and mentorship. With an average retention rate of 81.5% across our special programs, ODI remains focused on implementing programs and strategic initiatives to drive the university closer to our overall retention goal of 84% university-wide. 

Additionally, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion would like to thank our institutional and community partners who have…